Nolan K. Bushnell, creator of Pong and founder of the Chuck E. Cheese restaurant chain, plans to open a "Media Bistro" where the servers will be computers that record food orders and display video games you can play while you eat (in my experience it's rather "play instead of eat.") The point is to get gamers out of the house.

Touch-screen monitors, installed at every table, booth and barstool, will allow diners to place food orders, play some 70 different video and trivia games, and take instant pop culture polls.

The monitors at the tables will be two-sided, so that two people will be able to play video games against each other. The restaurant will be divided into two sections, one with more casual gaming at the tables and another where games can be organized for large groups, as in bingo halls.
Projected onto the walls will be digital images ranging from movie previews to changing scenes, like snowfall in winter and clover fields on St. Patrick's Day.

Food runners will deliver orders to your table and "tour directors" will help you choose games and use the screens.

The first Media Bistrot is due to open in West Los Angeles this fall.

Via The New York Times.